Resilient wheel for vehicles.



C. G. CAPWELL. RESILIENT WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILI-2D DBG. 23, 1909. Y

Patented Oct` 31, 1911.

'UNITEDv STATES PATENT OFFICE.

COUBTLAND G. CAPWELL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB OF THIBTY-SEVEN ONE-HUNDREDTHS TO FRED RUWITSER, OF SOUTH AUTOLIQ-MASSACHUSETTS, "AND TWENTY-FIVE ONE-HUNDBEDTHS T0 JOHN H.

MOORE, OFJBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BESILIENT WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, lCOURTLAND G. CAP:

vWELL', a citizen of the United States, and

resident of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Resilient Wheels for Vehicles; of which the following description, in connection'with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

` This invention relates to resilient wheels for vehicles, of that type wherein the rim or felly is ixedly connected by spokes with van outer hub member which is yieldingly connected with an inner hub member, the latter being at all times concentric with the axle, the 'ylelding connecting means between the two` hub members permitting the wheel` to yield under strain and by its resiliency obviating the use of pneumatic or other cushion tires.

' My invention has for its object the production of novelmeans for yieldingly connecting the'two hub members, whereby the desired resilience is secured in a very simple, efficient, strong and durable manner, the construction being such that the vworking parts may be permanently inclosed in grease or other lubricant and the entrance of dust and dirt prevented.

The various novel features of my invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in the following claims. f

2Figure 1 1s a side elevation and partial section of a suiiicient portion of a resilient wheel embodying oneY form of myv invention, the section being taken on the line 1-1, Fig. 2, the up er half of one of the cylinen out; Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1 but with the spokes axle andits tion.

Herein I have shown the outer hub member A 'as annular'in general shape, and provided on one of its Hat sides with a peripheral llange a, and its opposite side is recessed to form a seat for a removable'ring a', Fig. 2, adapted to be rigidly secured to the member A by suitable bolts a2, said flan e and ring, with the circular periphery of t e hub member, constituting a channel in which are tightly fitted the butt or inner ends of B. Said spokes are longitudinally retaining nut shown in eleva- Sp-eoioation of Letters Pate/nt. Application led December 23, 1909. Serial `of the inner hub y Patented ot.31, 1911. N0. 534,569.

rigid and at their outer ends are secured in any customary'manner to the wheel rim or felly (not shown) the felly and the hub member A thus being connected in a rigid and unyielding manner, and if desired the but-ts of alternate spokes may be held inV place by retaining bolts b.

In the present embodiment of my invention I have arranged upon the inner periphery of theannular member A a plurality of pairs of abutments a3, a4, and as shown in Fig. 1 the abutments are flat or plane faces arranged so that the two constituting a pair are opposite each other and parallel. The abutments are arranged symmetrically with relation to the center of the member A, and the segmental portions a of said member between adjacent abutments a3, a, are provided with bolt-holes a for a purpose to be described. Between each pair of opposite `abutments I have shown the member A as having two separated and inturned ears a7, to be referred to hereinafter. The outer hub member is yieldingly connected with and sust-ains the inner hub member, to be described, the latter being permanently concentric with the axle, but the outer member is free to assume eccentric positions with relation to the axle, as will be understood.

In the present embodiment vof my invention the inner hub member is made in two like parts or halves, preferably castings, and each'half comprises a central hub member or portion C apertured to receive the axle D, the latter having a key d and a retaining nut d', to fixedly connect the axlel and the hub member, the portion C being shown herein as triangular and having along each of its sides a half cylinder c. When t-he two halves are assembled face to face, and connected by bolts of, c2, it will be seen that a plurality of symmetrically arranged cylinders are presented, each one having its longitudinal axis at right angles to a radius member." The cylinders are interposed between opposed pairs of abutments a3, a4, as shown 1n Fig. 1, with the centrally apertured cylinder en ds o3, c4,V substantially parallel to such abutments but at some distance therefrom. A pair of oppositely extended plungers c5 are mounted to slide longitudinally in each cylinder and project through the ends thereof to engage and coperate with the opposite and adagainst the fiat sides :the axle D will be sustained yieldingly by M at least two plungers and their coperating faced ribs e and e on the inner faces of the plates cooperating with the flat external walls of the cylinders c, as shown in Fig. Q; The outer plate E is imperforate and tightly closes the interior of the annular hub member A, but the plate E is provided with an axle-receiving aperture e2, larger than the axle, such aperture being closed by a ringf washer f surrounding the axle inside of'sai plate, as shown in Fig.' 2. rllhus the inner side of the hub member A is substantially tightly closed, and in the chamber thus provided a viscous or semi-solid grease or lubricant can be retained, to lubricate the moving parts interposed between the inner and outer members of the hub; The grease can only escape at the inner side of the hub adjacent the axle, and at such point there is very slight opportunity for escape, as will manifest, so that. the working parts are well protected by the cap-plates from the entrance of dust, dirt or moisture.

While l have shown herein the axle as jacent abutments, the engaging ends of the plungers being preferably convexed, as shown, to minimize friction, each plunger having at its inner end a circular head c6, see Fig. 1, wherein the nearer half of the left hand cylinder is broken out. Opposed lugs o7 on the outer side of the two halves yof each cylinder are rigidly connected by the bolts 02, and said connected lugs project between a pair of the inturned ears al on the hub member A, there being suliicient clearance to permit the proper relative yielding movement between the inner and outer hub members while at the same time relative rotative movement of such members is limited. By this limitation the plungers are at all times maintained in proper coperation with the abutments. A strong spiral spring S' is interposed between the two plunger heads c in each cylinder, to at all times press ther plungers iirmly against their coperating abutments, and yieldingly resisting inward movement of the plungers when subjected to pressure by or against the abutments.

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the opposite sides of the member C and external portions of the cylinders are flat and parallel, giving great strength and rigidity while at the same time presenting a compact structure, the' making of the member C and the connected cylinders in separable halves affording easy means for assembling the parts and providing for repairs when necessary. The springs S l term the main springs, as they act at all times upon the plungers, but I prefer to inclose within them auxiliary springs SX which are not brought into substantial action until the load carried by the wheel is quite materially increased. That is, in equipping an automobile with wheels embodying my invention the main springs S would serve to sustain the dead weight of the body, frame, motor, etc. while the auxiliary springs S would come into lay when the automobile receives its variable load of passengers, baggage, etc.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be seen that in all angular positions of the wheel the load -weight transmit-ted through will be manifest that the axle may loosely fit such member to permit rotation of the latter upon the axle,vboth modes of procedure being common in resilient wheels of the type to which my invention belongs.

My invention may be modified or re-arranged in various respects by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the claims annexed hereto.

Having fully described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patenty is 1. The combination, with an inner hub member at all times concentric with the axle, a plurality of rigidly connected and symmetrically disposed cylinders carried by said member, each cylinder having its longitudinal axis at right angles to a radius of the hub member centrally intersecting the cylinder, a pair of oppositely extended plungers longitudinally movable in each cylinder and projecting beyond the ends thereof, and springs to sustain and resist inward movement of the plungers, of a loosely surrounding outer hub member having within its circumference inwardly extended, flat abutments arranged in opposite pairs parallel to each other to receive between them a cylinder and to engage the outer ends of the plungers of such cylinder, and means indendent of the abutments to limit relative `rotative movement of said hub'members.

'2. The combination with an inner hub member always concentric with Fthe axle and comprising two like partsbolted together, each part having a plurality of semi-cylinders symmetrically disposed with their longitudinal axes at right angles to radii of the hub member, a headed plunger projecting r"through each end of each cylinder and lonabutments, and such load weight will be the outer hub member. The axle and inner hub member is thus yieldingly sustained by the outer or spoke-carrying member, and the use of pneumatic or'other forms of cushion tires is ob viated. Undue relative lateral movement of the inner and outer members is prevented by means of circular outer'and inner capplates E, E', Fig. 2, which are held tightly of the member A by means of bolts e* extended through the holes a hereinbefore referred to, segmental flatrigidly attached to the inner hub member itk 1 arranged in' parallel posed between a pair gitudinally movable therein, and spiral springs inclosed in the cylinders between the heads of the plungers, to resist inward movement thereof, of aloosely surrounding,

annular outer hub member having internal abutments disposed opposite the cylinder ends and engaged by the plungers, and means to prevent relative lateral movement of said hub members.

3. The combination with an inner hub member and a loosely surrounding outer hub member, and spokes attached 'to the latter, of a plurality of rigidly' connected and symmetrically disposed cylinders carried by one of said members, each cylinder having its longitudinal axis at right angles to an intersecting radius of the supporting hub member, a pair of oppositely extended plungers longitudinally movable in each cylinder and convexed at their outer ends beyond the adjacent ends of the cylinder, a sustaining spring interposed between the inner ends of each pain of plungers, to resist inward movement thereofand flat abutments onthe other of said hub members and pairs to be engaged by the convexed ends of a pair of the plungers, each of the plunger-cylinders being introf abutments.

4. The combination, with .an axle, a plurality of symmetrically disposed cylinders connected therewith concentrically, and having their longitudinal axes at right angles to radii of the axle, a pair of oppositely movable plungers in each cylinder and projecting beyond the opposite ends thereof, and springs in the cylinders between the inner ends of the plungers,=to resist inward movement thereof, of a loosely surrounding, annular member having spokes ixedly attached thereto, a plurality of abutments arranged in opposite pairs parallel to each other within'said member, to coperate with the pairs of plungers and yieldingly sustain the axle within the 'spoke-carrying member, each cylinderA and its plungers being nterposed between a pair of abutments, and means independent of the abutments to limit relative rotative movement of said member and the axle.

5. The combination, with an axle, a plurality of rigidly connected cylinders symmetrically disposed around the axle and operatively connected therewith, the longitudinal axis of each cylinder being at right angles to an intersecting radius of the axle, a pair of oppositely movable plungers inV each cylinder and projecting beyond the opposite ends thereof, and springs in the cylinders between the inner ends of the plungers, to resist inward movement thereof, of

`a loosely surrounding, annular member having spokes xedly attached thereto, a plurality of 'lat abutments arranged in opposite pairs parallel to each other within said member, to coperate with the pairs of plungers and yieldingly sustain the axle within the spoke-carrying member, each cylinder being interposed between a pair of abutments, means to maintain the plungers and abutments in coperation while permitting eccentric movement of the annular member relative to the axle, andcap-plates iXedly attached to said member and inclosing the cylinders, plungers and abutments, said cap-plates coperating with opposite sides of the cylinders and preventing lateral movement of the spoke-carrying memoer upon the axle.

6. The combination with an inner hub member, permanently concentric with the axle, and a loosely surrounding outer hub member having attachedspokes, of a plurality of rigidly connected cylinders carried by one of said members and arranged symmetrically with relation to the center thereof, with their longitudinal axes at right angles to radii of such member, spring-controlled plungers longitudinally movable in the cylinders and having their outer ends projecting beyond, the opposite ends ofthe same, a plurality of flat abutments carried by the other one of said hub members and arranged in parallel pairs opposite to and engaged by the projecting end s of the plungers of a cylinder interposed between a pair of abutments to yieldingly sustain the inner hub member and permit the outer hub member to move eccentrically Vto Ythe axle, and springs within the cylinders and acting upon the plungers to maintain said plungers and abutments in operative engagement.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

COURTLAND G. GAPWELL.

Witnesses:

Louis C. SMITH, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND.

Correction n Letters Ratent Ne. 1 ,007,333.

It is hereby certified thht the neme of the hrst mentioned assignee in Letters Patent No. 1,007,333, granted @eheheh 31., 1911, upon the application of Courtland G. Capwell, of Boston., Maseechusente, for m1 improvement, in Resilient Wheels; for Vehicles, wes erroneously Written and primed Ered Ruwits'er, whereas said name should halve been wi'ihneh and prnte Fred Ra'we'teee; and thai. the ASeidl Lettere Patent should he read with this eorrectien therein thm; the seme may eoferm to the re'eordl of the case 'in the Patent @mee l signed mamma this' .este hay ef hmmm, hlm., 1911.

[SEAL] E, B. MUURE,

wmmssoner of Patente. 

